Chapter 32

EP 7 - North Wind (3)

Dark circles.

Messy hair.

Gloomy and dull eyes.

Trembling hands.

Stammering speech.

Wobbly steps.

That was the Pi Chae-won I knew.

A pitiful girl suffering from trauma.

But now, my thoughts have changed a bit.

"......What happened?"

Pi Chae-won is standing at my front door, catching her breath, looking dirty and exhausted.

"You look much better."

However, her eyes, which had a new sharpness, shone from her young face.

"......Did you say you would become my guardian?"

"That's right."

She boldly confronted me.

"Can you just help me this one time without asking any questions?"

* * *

I let Pi Chae-won into the house.

From the northern part of Gyeonggi Province to Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do. I wondered how she managed to find her way here with most of the roads blocked, but that wasn't important.

Given that she's not an ordinary person, she must have found her way here somehow. I skipped the stupid questions and got straight to the point.

"Um, I'm a bit surprised by your sudden visit."

"......I'm sorry."

"No, no, since you had the courage to come first, I'll be straightforward too."

"......Yes."

"Take this first."

I handed her a towel. She blinked, looking at me as if to ask what this was.

"The bathroom is the second room to the left after you turn here."

"......Yes?"

"I'm going to make some food, so go take a shower first."

I smiled.

"You're all dirty."

"!"

*

Steam rose from the tightly packed barley rice, and I placed a few slices of mackerel on top.

"This is mackerel. They say the emperor of the Zhou Dynasty said this fish was so good that it made him want to unify the world."

"......Yes?"

"That's why it tastes good with rice."

Wow, this is really good! It's so delicious!

Nom. I took out various side dishes and piled them onto Pi Chae-won's plate. She awkwardly and hurriedly ate the side dishes I offered, looking flustered.

She must have been very hungry. After all, she couldn't have had three regular meals a day while trekking across the country.

Pi Chae-won, with a red face, bowed her head and continued eating. I smiled warmly, watching her.

I'm always full just watching our future seer eat. What a lucky kid.

"Hey, you're going to spoil the kid."

Perhaps out of boredom, Yeo Doyeon approached the table in her rabbit slippers and sat down. She said in a stern voice,

"Just one bite."

She must have been craving a snack. I stuffed a few slices of mackerel with wasabi into her mouth and asked,

"By the way, what kind of help do you need?"

"......"

Sure enough, she's not telling. I stopped probing and laughed.

"Ah, did you say not to ask?"

If Pi Chae-won came all the way from Gangbuk without contacting me, it must be something serious.

Especially since she came in person, which is suspicious.

It can't be that she couldn't contact me because she didn't have a phone. If so, it means this is something that shouldn't leave a record in the system.

For a high school student to consider the system and records, it must be a very serious matter. Or something illegal and secretive.

There's no need to pry. She cautiously spoke up first.

"......It's about a monster."

"What?"

"Doctor, can you bring some reliable hunters and go to Gangbuk with me...?"

Her words were a bit awkward, but the request was quite interesting.

However, I'm not entirely convinced yet.

Even if Pi Chae-won can see the future, it's hard to fully trust her. Without knowing the full context, I can't just trust her judgment—

"......Mr. Chul said the same thing."

Mr. Chul.

Gam Chul.

Gam Ji-ja.

......So, it seems Gam Ji-ja and this girl got involved in some incident and now need my secret assistance. Is that it?

If it's Gam Ji-ja's judgment, it's quite reliable. Let's move on from this.

"By asking for reliable hunters, does that mean you expect a violent situation?"

"......Probably."

"Then do you really need to bring several people?"

I put my hand on Yeo Doyeon's shoulder as she was eating a makeshift mackerel rice bowl. She reacted irritably.

"......What are you looking at?"

"Just because."

"A, really..."

I already have my Left Green Dragon and Right White Tiger.

*

"Speaking of which, isn't it a Red Bird instead of a Green Dragon?"

"Huh?"

"No, no."

I drove the car around the roads near the broadcasting station with Yeo Doyeon and Pi Chae-won in the back seat. Yeo Doyeon suddenly said,

"Hey, isn't it a bit strange for a doctor to drive with a secretary in the car?"

"Do you even realize you're a secretary?"

Yeo Doyeon glared, having just received her 7th-level secretary salary yesterday.

"Well, I'm driving......"

"Do you even have a license?"

"We got it together after high school, you idiot."

"But I didn't even know you had one because you hid it in the closet."

"......"

"Anyway, don't go around saying such scary things. You only show your license when buying soju, got it?"

Her expression in the rearview mirror was as terrifying as a demon, just before a fight. It's harmful to mental health.

If I let go of the steering wheel, I'd definitely be beaten to death, so I kept driving around the broadcasting station.

A familiar face caught my eye.

Cold expression.

Americano.

Beige long coat.

Faint red magic glowing from the tips of her hair.

The expressionless Hong Seon-a was wandering the city with a cold gaze.

I pulled up next to the cold city girl and honked briefly.

- Beep!

"Hi!"

I rolled down the window and called out to her.

"It's been a while, Hong Seon-a."

"Ah! You scared me!"

"Get in."

She got into the passenger seat with a pout and looked back.

"Oh! Doyeon-ssi! It's been so long...!"

She's quite friendly. Hong Seon-a deliberately choked up and shook Yeo Doyeon's hand.

"......Yeah, it's been a while."

Yeo Doyeon greeted her coolly, but I could tell she was feeling awkward and embarrassed. Hong Seon-a also greeted Pi Chae-won.

"Oh! Hello, friend? I'm Hong Seon-a! Call me Seon-a-ssi!"

"A, ah, yes......"

With an insider among two outsiders, the atmosphere became awkward. I, who was somewhat of an insider, joined the conversation.

"Why are you wearing a coat? It's still hot, even though it's late summer...."

"I don't feel the heat!"

Hong Seon-a grabbed the back of my neck.

I suddenly felt strange.

It's hot, but it's not really hot.

The heat isn't particularly bothersome. It's a peculiar feeling. When Hong Seon-a let go, I started feeling the heat again.

"Hong Seon-a."

"Yup?"

"Would you like to hold my hand during the summer?"

"I won't hold hands with a doctor because it reminds me of trauma!"

Hong Seon-a giggled and started to fasten her seatbelt, but I pondered her half-joke.

Dark, suffocating, and the red eyes that suddenly appeared and bit into my neck.

The Shinbundang Line.

Even though we escaped by holding hands, just thinking about it gives me chills. Especially when the manhole cover burst open and grabbed my ankle—

"By the way, why did you call me?"

"......Ah."

I snapped out of my thoughts and told Hong Seon-a the reason.

"I need a reliable hunter who can keep quiet."

"Ah, that's me!"

Hong Seon-a's immediate response came, but the expressions of the two girls in the back seat, seen in the rearview mirror, weren't very reassuring.

But I knew how tight-lipped Hong Seon-a was.

For a secret and violent mission, a small, elite team is perfect.

If we need to catch a big one, Yeo Doyeon is enough.

If we need to catch several small ones, Hong Seon-a is the best.

Of course, she'll run if it gets too dangerous, but I decided to confirm one last time.

I turned to the back seat.

"Does Chae-won know Hong Seon-a?"

Hong Seon-a is quite famous. Pi Chae-won must know how strong she is. She nodded slightly.

"Is this enough, then?"

Pi Chae-won nodded again.

I stepped on the gas and headed towards Gangbuk.

*

"Oh, you must be tired."

"Salute! I'll help check the permit, ah, Doctor!"

"We're going to hunt a monster for the guild. Can we use the military road?"

"Ah, yes!"

The soldier signaled, and the barrier lifted, allowing us to smoothly enter the military road.

If we used the regular road, it would have taken us a full day, stuck on the highway. But the military road was clear except for the occasional tank or truck.

Let's see. From here to northern Gyeonggi Province, if there are no traffic jams—

"It will take about six hours."

"Can I play music?"

"No."

I played Kim Gwang-seok's second album via Bluetooth.

"I'll play something I like."

The melancholic electronic piano intro of "I Loved, But" started.

Gulp...! I let out a thick sigh, captivated by the mood.

Yeo Doyeon closed her eyes and tilted her head, as if saying, "Here we go again," and Pi Chae-won tilted her head, wondering who the singer was.

As the sad chorus vibrato began, Hong Seon-a looked at me with a complicated expression.

"Seung-moon, you're like this...?"

"What?"

"No, it's just......"

Hong Seon-a awkwardly cut off her words. I sped up on the empty highway and asked her,

"By the way, why did you ask me to pick you up at the broadcasting station?"

"Ah! That's right! I'm on TV!"

"What?"

She excitedly answered. Now that I think about it, her makeup looked better today. It must have been done by a professional.

"Section TV Entertainment News!"

"......Why there?"

"What! Can't I go there?"

"But you're not a talent, are you?"

Hong Seon-a glared at me.

"......A talent?"

"What?"

"Ah, no. I just thought your word choice was very mature..."

"Are you saying I'm old?"

"Not really."

"Originally, people from Busan are all talents!"

Yeo Doyeon, who had her eyes closed, said in a solemn voice,

"That's not true."

"Are you sleeping?"

"I'm not sleeping."

Hong Seon-a giggled and mocked me.

"It's fine! I'm old enough at twenty-eight!"

"I'm twenty-seven."

"Whatever!"

Yeo Doyeon (28, Secretary) flinched for a moment but I ignored her pitiful look and focused on driving.

"What have you been up to lately, Hong Seon-a?"

"Um, hunting monsters, visiting good restaurants, hunting monsters, drinking with Mr. Chun-sik, hunting monsters, appearing on variety shows..."

"You appeared on a variety show?"

Hong Seon-a asked with a pout.

"Can't hunters appear on TV?"

"But you're not a talent."

"But I look like one?"

"Since when?"

"Since I was born?"

A tough opponent. She smiled at me. I continued driving with a grim expression.

Hong Seon-a muttered as if it was no big deal.

"Hmm. Isn't it similar to politicians appearing on TV?"

She was saying that since she can play the media game, why can't I?

She's sharp. In reality, Hong Seon-a is quite popular due to her impressive abilities, appearance, and charisma.

That's what I'm wary of right now.

There's no need to attract the attention of those who covet hunters. The influence over this field must remain in my hands.

Most importantly, Hong Seon-a is a character who can easily sway public opinion. Naturally, my influence over her will diminish.

I said calmly,

"Hmm. Since the duties of hunters are similar to public service, it's not a big concern for you, Hong Seon-a, but for other hunters......"

"Hmm..."

"What, journalists are so cunning. They can easily frame hunters and benefit from it, so I hope you're always careful and worried about it."

Hong Seon-a gave me a sleepy look.

"Our doctor, you have a bit of a possessive streak, don't you?"

Damn, she's quick.

She pinched my arm playfully and smiled.

"If you play the radio, I'll reduce my TV appearances!"

"Play it."

"Yay!"

Click.

- ...In order to protect the constitutional order, I hereby declare, and immediately notify the National Assembly.

The song I expected didn't play, but a solemn voice came through.

And. It was a familiar voice.

- According to Article 77 of the Constitution, I hereby declare a state of martial law in the Gyeonggi Province area, effective immediately.

Acting President Won Ok-bun declared martial law.